Diepsloot community leaders granted R500 bail

The three men were released on R500 bail each by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

They face charges of public violence, intimidation, and malicious damage to property linked to the violent anti-crime protests in the area.

Toyiya denies involvement in public violence, adding they intended to continue calling for the president and his ministers to intervene in the crime-ridden community. 

“We were never part of any public violence, and we will never be violent. We are responsible leaders.” 

He claims their arrests were politically motivated, but that would not deter them from doing what it takes to get an audience with the president. 

“We still want those engagements; we still want those ministers to come. We have done nothing wrong but want to be part of the solution in our community. 

“Maybe the solution that will come from Diepsloot will be one that can be used in the entire South Africa.

Last year officials from the police, immigration, and customs authorities were deployed to the township after similar protests rocked the community.

At the same time, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said, based on the evidence before them, the state opted not to oppose bail.

“There were ways to mitigate the challenges raised by the police, some of them being that they couldn’t verify the addresses. We then indicated that those are conditions that can be set by the court the ensure that they will be able to monitor them.”

It also emerged in court that accused number three, Nkala, had a previous assault conviction in 2020.

The courts placed only one condition for the trio, which bars them from participating in acts of public violence.

 Mjonondwane clarified that this did not mean the men could not be part of mass gatherings.

“It [the order] did not preclude them from participating in community meetings, so long as there is no public violence involved.” 

The matter will return to court on 17 August.

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